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FORMER England wonderkid and Leicester title winner Liam Moore has dropped down to the seventh tier of English football with Spalding United.

The defender, 31, had been with League One outfit Northampton Town last season.

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He made eight appearances for the club following seven years in the Championship with Reading.

But Moore will now be playing in the Southern League Premier Division Central — English football’s seventh league — after penning a deal with Spalding.

They lie 18th in the table after just five wins in 14 matches.

And Moore has gone straight into the squad for this weekend’s trip to Stratford Town.

The signing of the nine-time Jamaica international is a major coup for Spalding.

Moore was once tipped as a future England star after featuring 10 times for the U21s.

The centre-back has played for a variety of top sides including Brentford, Bristol City and Stoke.

And he even has a title win with Leicester after leading them to glory in the Championship a decade ago.

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Moore, who played 67 times for the Foxes was also part of the squad which won the Premier League title under Claudio Ranieri in 2016.

However, he spent the first half of that campaign on loan at Bristol.

And Moore did not make a single league appearance upon his return, leaving him ineligible to receive a winners’ medal.

He previously admitted he was forever haunted by the league’s decision to not officially recognise his contribution as a squad player.

Moore said: “It would have taken just five appearances to get a winners’ medal, and that medal I would have cherished for ever. I remember crying, trying to hide my tears, but saying I would be back stronger for this. 

“It was so difficult, but it was such an eye-opener. It will go down as an amazing day, but a tough day in my career. My family were coming and everyone was adamant I had played a part in how we had got to that point. 

“Everything was great during the game (a 3-1 win over Everton), but it hit me when I wasn’t on the podium — I hadn’t played any minutes in the league (for Leicester) that season. 

“The moment they said, ‘And this season’s Premier League champions are… Leicester City’, and Wes lifted the trophy, it was one of the best and worst feelings in my life. 

“I had just seen my boyhood club, the club that means so much to me, become champions, but I then realised that some of the decisions I had made in the past year had cost me the chance of being involved.”

Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth), Max O’Leary (Bristol City).

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Dara O’Shea (Ipswich Town), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Shane Duffy (Norwich City), Mark McGuinness (Luton Town), Liam Scales (Celtic), Callum O’Dowda (Cardiff City).

Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough), Andy Moran (Stoke City, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion).

Forwards: Adam Idah (Celtic), Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Tom Cannon (Stoke City, on loan from Leicester City), Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Festy Ebosele (Watford, on loan from Udinese), Kasey McAteer (Leicester City), Sammie Szmodics (Ipswich Town), Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion).

Less than six months after he led UAE club Al-Ain AFC Champions League title, Hernan Crespo was sacked as the head coach. Al-Ain showed the Argentine legend the door after a string of defeats, culminating in a 1-5 loss to Al-Nassr in the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday.

The loss to Critiano Ronaldo’s club left Al-Ain at the bottom of the 12-team west zone standings halfway through the AFC Champions League—now called Champions League Elite—with one point from four matches.

In the UAE Pro League, too, Al Ain have just eight points from five matches and are eighth in the 14-team table. They are 10 points adrift of table leaders Shabab Al Ahli.

In May, Crespo led Al-Ain to a famous win over Yokohama F Marinos of Japan in the two-legged final of the AFC Champions League.

The two-time continental champions thanked Crespo, who took over in November last year as the head coach, but added that “recent results have not met expectations” in a statement.

Under the former Inter Milan and Chelsea striker, Al-Ain qualified for the expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, but the 49-year-old will not be leading the team into the tournament slated to be held in the US next year.

Al-Ain are yet to name a replacement for Crespo.

CHELSEA fans have been given an update on star man Cole Palmer’s fitness ahead of their clash with Arsenal this weekend.

Palmer, 22, has been a doubt for the London derby after picking up a knock during the Blues’ 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday.

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Enzo Maresca explained earlier this week that the midfielder was unable to train on Tuesday after the injury.

He said: “Cole Palmer was not able to train yesterday, he was not fit. We hope to have him back against Arsenal. We will assess him.”

But Blues fans have been given a boost after seeing Cole Palmer at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea‘s clash with FC Noah in the Conference League.

Palmer, who isn’t part of Chelsea’s Conference League squad, was there to support his team from the sidelines.

And the England star appeared to be moving freely as he walked by the pitch in SW6.

Fans were certainly buoyed by the sight of their star man moving with ease.

On social media, one wrote: “I think he can play against Arsenal”.

While another added: “Like I said, he looks good for someone who is supposed to be injured”.

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Chelsea fans can be confident that any issue isn’t long-term either with Palmer called up to Lee Carsley’s final England camp as manager.

The former Man City man has been included in the 23-strong squad to face Greece and Ireland.

Palmer’s inclusion for the Arsenal game would be a huge boost with the attacking midfielder already registering 12 goal contributions in 10 Premier League games this season.

However, the Blues could still be without Jadon Sancho for the head-to-head this weekend too.

Speaking about the winger in his press conference, Maresca said: “He also had a knock in a session.

“Tomorrow [against Noah] he is out but we will see if he can be available for Sunday’s game, otherwise it will be after the international break for him.”

Arsenal could be reduced in numbers with Declan Rice missing the Gunners’ 1-0 defeat to Inter on Wednesday with injury.

Palmer’s absence mattered little against FC Noah as the romped to an 8-0 win – a record for the Europa Conference League.

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